Chapter 15: Volcan – 4

A land where everything had fallen into ruin.

There, Erme realized she was dreaming.

This was a remnant of the past.

The sky was stained crimson, and black, toxic rain poured relentlessly.

‘What nonsense.’

The arrogant had fallen.

They overestimated their own strength, and their enemies repeatedly exploited the gaps left by their pride.

That was all.

That was the only reason.

The reason humanity had been defeated.

The reason the heroes had been defeated.

‘What a joke.’

No, that wasn’t it.

It was all because of that Demon King.

That being—formed entirely of darkness.

It had simply destroyed the world.

That was all there was to it.

*

“A disgusting dream.”

Her back was damp with sweat.

Cold sweat clung to her entire body.

On days like this, she just wanted to take a quick bath.

She sometimes had dreams like this.

Strange visions that felt almost like glimpses of the future.

But those futures always seemed too distant to grasp.

Even as she dismissed the thought, she moved her body.

There was much to do.

She had to prepare for the future.

Even now, that being was surely making its moves.

Plotting the downfall of humanity.

‘Annoying bastard.’

A being powerful enough to overwhelm humanity alone.

And yet, it also possessed an unbelievably sharp mind.

That was why humanity had been utterly helpless against it.

Now, only a little over ten years remained.

No—just as she was trying to change the future, that being was surely making its own moves as well.

‘How did she do it…?’

She thought of a woman.

A woman who had been bold and confident, unlike herself.

But for Erme, even imitating that woman was a struggle.

Sigh.

The road ahead was full of thorns.

Surviving in this world was brutally difficult.

…

But at least I have information.

That alone gave her a chance.

She forced herself to get up.

Fortunately, she had met some decent people.

‘Theresa, the Berserker. Marcel, the master of support. And Han Yuseong.’

Theresa and Marcel were already well-known.

Even in the future, their influence would be immense.

But Han Yuseong?

She knew nothing about him.

One thing was certain, though.

‘He’s not someone who would die to a guy like Han Ul.’

Han Ul’s so-called goblin hunt.

She had gone there with the intention of saving a future talent—someone Han Ul would have otherwise killed.

And there, as if by sheer coincidence, she met him.

The moment she saw him, her instincts screamed.

A man who carried danger, as if his very existence was a threat to himself.

A man whose eyes remained ice-cold, even from beneath his hood.

‘A dangerous man…?’

The instant she laid eyes on Han Yuseong, she knew.

He was a type of person she had never encountered before.

At the same time, a question arose.

How did Han Ul manage to kill him?

Did he really die because of a goblin ambush?

She had wanted to witness the process herself.

‘He died too easily.’

And yet, there was still so much he hadn’t shown.

Her heart pounded.

The more she observed him.

The more layers he seemed to have, peeling away like an endless onion.

He was too exceptional.

Which was why she felt uneasy.

She still had many things she had yet to reveal.

But how long would he stay by her side?

As Erme pondered that concern, she stretched.

With the settlement process done and a short nap behind her.

It was time to head to the training room and strengthen her body.

Exercise was familiar.

It was far better than fighting.

Before entering, she paid Hilda at the counter.

And once she stepped inside.

She saw it.

The scarecrow she had marked as her target to break once she reached Level 2.

…What the hell?

Han Yuseong had shattered it.

The scarecrow was completely destroyed.

According to Volcan and Lucia, these things weren’t supposed to break so easily.

And anyone who did manage to break one would instantly be labeled a prodigy.

A talent that prestigious clans would scramble to recruit.

‘…There are way too many eyes on him.’

It was uncomfortable.

No—very uncomfortable.

“Did he just break that in one hit?”

“Wait, isn’t he a Rank 1 adventurer? I heard he was still Level 1.”

“His potential is insane. I’ve barely ever heard of a Level 1 breaking one of these.”

“Yeah, it’s rare. Not impossible, but close to it.”

Volcan let out a dry remark.

“You… do you even realize what you’ve just done?”

His voice carried a rare seriousness.

And yet, despite his serious tone.

His eyes told a different story.

Bright and sharp, gleaming with excitement.

And his mouth?

Curved into a smirk.

‘Seriously.’

If he was going to speak so gravely, shouldn’t his expression match?

Why was he looking at me like he was enjoying himself?

Or maybe… he just found the whole situation entertaining.

Whatever the reason, I didn’t find it particularly pleasant.

I shifted my gaze to Lucia.

Her eyes were practically sparkling with hearts.

And then.

“Shit, I wanna fuck him so bad.”

“……?”

What?

Did I hear that correctly?

It had been a tiny murmur—small enough that I might have misheard.

And next.

I turned to see Erme.

Her mouth was hanging open, eyes round with shock.

Why was she making that face?

“D-Did you just break that?”

“…Yeah.”

“H-How?”

Her gaze trembled as she stared at me.

I looked at the shattered scarecrow.

‘If you ask me how I broke it…’

I just broke it well.

There wasn’t exactly a good way to explain that.

‘And I can’t just tell them I used Elven swordsmanship.’

Rishiel had once told me.

Elven swordsmanship wasn’t something humans could use.

Likewise, human swordsmanship wasn’t something elves could wield easily either.

Each race had sword styles suited to them.

That’s why they couldn’t use each other’s techniques.

Though, some could degrade the techniques to make them work.

That kind of adaptation rarely happened.

And even when it did, the technique degraded so much that it eventually became a completely different style altogether.

I turned to look at Rishiel.

She was staring at me, dazed.

T-That strike just now… how did you do it?

‘If you ask me how I did it…’

I just did it well.

Though, I had to admit—my condition was exceptionally good today.

I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off again so easily.

But once I grasped the sensation, I could probably replicate it.

N-No, I phrased that wrong.

How did you even know that swordsmanship?

‘That swordsmanship?’

Her gaze was sharp, serious.

I realized that my answer here would greatly impact our relationship.

‘Not that it really matters—she’s already bound to me.’

But still…

If, by some miracle, she decided to abandon everything and rebel, I would have to kill her.

And if that happened, I wouldn’t gain anything from her.

‘She still has plenty of value left.’

That meant I had to give her the right answer.

A proper response.

“I was imitating your swordsmanship, but… something felt off.”

You were imitating my swordsmanship, but it felt… off?

“Yeah.”

S-So, you compensated for that flaw and adjusted it yourself?

‘…I guess?’

The way she phrased it made me sound like a genius.

But in reality, that wasn’t it.

It was Thief’s Pinnacle.

And my innate talent.

On top of that.

That talent had evolved into Master of the Blade.

Those three factors had aligned perfectly to make something click.

Rishiel stared at me, momentarily speechless.

That swordsmanship… it’s called Darkmoon.

‘Darkmoon?’

Did I not mention it before? If you wish, I could teach you the secret techniques of the Darkmoon family.

‘…She did say that.’

I recalled our past conversation.

Have you ever considered learning dual swordsmanship?

And then, right after, she had added.

Even the elves have forgotten this technique.

Because… it’s a lost sword style.

That was roughly how it went.

‘That’s strange.’

When I had learned Rishiel’s swordsmanship, I had felt like something was missing.

That lingering sensation had nagged at me.

And then, during my fight with Volcan.

Something had nearly surfaced, appearing as an illusion.

Thief’s Pinnacle had supplied me with information.

My innate combat instincts had drawn the path.

And I had simply followed it.

But the fact that I could learn this swordsmanship this way…

‘Does that mean there’s something wrong with it?’

It was far too powerful for that to be the case.

Or maybe… elves simply lost the ability to wield it?

I wasn’t sure.

[Skill: Swordsmanship has increased by 2 levels.]

‘…Oh.’

Why the reaction?

I didn’t tell her that my swordsmanship had just leveled up twice.

That was valuable information.

She was on my side for now, but one day.

She could very well become my enemy.

It was best not to share too much.

“Just something good happened. Anyway, so?”

Would you be willing to teach me that swordsmanship?

“Teaching it isn’t hard, but…”

After using it once, I realized.

This technique was not easy to master.

‘Even with all my Gifts stacked together, I still found it difficult.’

I had learned Darkmoon by sheer coincidence.

But mastering it properly?

That seemed nearly impossible.

Are you underestimating me?

Sure, you may be an unprecedented genius, but I was once called the hope of the Elves!

‘…You were that exceptional?’

I-I only lost because of your strange ability! I wasn’t actually defeated!!

Rishiel protested, but honestly, it was kind of funny.

I had gained the upper hand in our duel.

But it hadn’t been an overwhelming difference.

‘She wasn’t that much weaker than me.’

Of course, Rishiel had been holding back.

And I had been going all out.

‘Even now, I’d probably still struggle against her.’

Without Absolute Theft, I might’ve been dead.

Besides, her level back then had been 3.

And I was still Level 1.

Levels were more absolute than they seemed—closing that gap wasn’t easy.

‘She was two levels higher than me?’

And yet, she still lost and was making excuses?

‘…That’s a little pathetic.’

A truly disappointing elf.

You’re the weird one! I have one S-rank Gift and one A-rank Gift!

I was practically meant to be a Sword Hero!!

‘An S-rank and an A-rank?’

That’s right! With that kind of talent, it wouldn’t have been strange if I had become a legendary sword wielder!

‘And what are the names of your Gifts?’

One is Waltz of the Wind. The other is Master of the Blade.

Master of the Blade?

Yes! And it’s S-rank!

An S-rank Master of the Blade?

Wasn’t that usually A+ rank at best?

Something seemed off.

I immediately opened my status window to check.

[GIFT]

Master of the Blade (A+)
Growth-Type.

◇ When wielding a sword, you can use it at a masterful level.

◇ Enhances combat intuition, speed, and striking power.

◇ Provides skill enhancement for Swordsmanship (Lv. 5).

So, Master of the Blade was indeed A+ rank.

Fufu, it seems even you’re surprised.

My strength lies in possessing a Gift that can evolve into Sword Specter, Sword King, or even Sword Emperor.

‘…What?’

That’s where she was mistaken.

Rishiel seemed momentarily confused before continuing.

Master of the Blade is an S-rank Gift that, under certain conditions, can evolve into a higher form of swordsmanship.

For example, that old man probably evolved his into Sword King for a well-balanced style.

‘So it adjusts to match the user’s ideal sword style?’

Exactly.

A warrior who seeks speed and unpredictability evolves into Sword Specter.

Someone who wields heavy or crushing blades evolves into Sword Emperor.

And those who pursue all forms of swordsmanship earn the title of Sword Saint.

‘Is there a hierarchy between them?’

There’s no hierarchy.

Each form has its own strengths and weaknesses—it all depends on the user’s capabilities.

Just to be sure, I asked another question.

“Are there Gifts called Pinnacle or something similar?”

Pinnacle? Where did you even hear such nonsense?

That’s just a legend—Gifts that supposedly let you transcend all limits.

They’re said to evolve into an unclassified rank beyond S-rank.

‘An unclassified rank?’

That’s what the scholars researching Gifts claim.

They say if S-rank exists, then something beyond it wouldn’t be impossible.

But it’s nonsense.

Even among elves, those with S-rank Gifts are rare.

‘Is that so…’

I glanced at Thief’s Pinnacle.

Rishiel’s explanation didn’t match my situation at all.

‘Even her classification of Master of the Blade seems off.’

Maybe if I kept evolving it, I’d uncover something new.

With a sigh, I looked around.

The gazes locked onto me had changed.

Like those of people who had just discovered a pile of gold.

‘Well, first things first… I need to survive.’

The future was going to be exhausting.